The Ukrainian Attorney-General’s Office initiated a criminal case
today on violations of arms sales to Georgia in 2005, the newspaper
Segodnya reports, citing Deputy Attorney-General Renat Kuzmin.
There is a possibility that these arms were used in the conflict of August 2008.
According to Kuzmin, the state company Ukroboronexport purchased 50 AA
missile complexes Buk-M1 and Buk M1-2 for the needs of the country’s
Defense Ministry. The weapons were purchased from a Russian-Ukrainian
private company that had no license for such deals, Georgia Times
reports.
Moreover, the missiles were purchased by the private company from
Ukroboronservice for $1.5 million and then sold on for the same seller
at twice the price. The person who benefited is being searched for.
The accused company representatives are appealing the judicial
decision.
Former Ukrainian president Victor Yushenko rejected all accusations of
arms sales to Georgia, saying that there was no international embargo
on supplying the country with military equipment and ammunition.
